The Story of a Brand Native Pet - Gut Health Goes to the Dogs
I had a blast sitting down with Dan Schaefer, Founder & CEO of Native Pet.
We kicked things off with gratitude. Dan shared how his wife was his “first angel investor,” backing his leap from BCG into entrepreneurship while raising a young family. From there, we got into the big idea behind Native Pet: “around-the-bowl nutrition.” Instead of trying to replace what’s in your dog’s bowl, Native Pet helps pet parents customize it with clean-label, effective supplements dogs actually love to eat.
Dan walked me through their earliest wins, such as transforming messy canned pumpkin into a shelf-stable powdered pumpkin with a smart fiber blend, and their breakout hit, The Daily (an all-in-one scoop inspired by human greens routines). We also dug into hard-earned lessons (hello, Target packaging panic) and a huge upcoming launch that brings today’s human gut-health wave into pet wellness.
Highlights
* Gratitude that fuels the journey: Dan credits his wife and co-founder Pat’s family for believing early, packing boxes, cheering them on, and making “zero to one” possible.
* The Native Pet thesis: Focus on supplements to personalize health “around the bowl,” so pet parents can keep their preferred food and add targeted support.
* Simple, smart innovation: From powdered Pumpkin to Omega Oil, clean-label formats and taste are non-negotiable—if dogs won’t eat it, nothing else matters.
* Breakout product: The Daily—their one-scoop daily multivitamin—became Native Pet’s best seller and even hit #1 in multivitamins on Amazon right after Prime Day.
* Where to find them: Online at nativepet.com, Amazon, Chewy, and nationwide at Target, Petco, PetSmart, Whole Foods, Sprouts, Tractor Supply, Meijer, Pet Supplies Plus, and more. Plus, try the website quiz to get the right plan for your dog.
* One more thing I’m excited about: Native Pet’s new GutWell line (launching August) targets specific outcomes through the microbiome—Clean Breath, Trim Down, Stress Support, Itchy Skin, and Power Poop—in a tasty, clean-label, cold-pressed pellet with bold, premium packaging.
Join me, Ramon Vela, in listening to the episode: If you care about helping your dog live a happier, healthier, and longer life—and want practical ways to personalize their nutrition—you’ll love this conversation. Hit play to hear the full story, the lessons learned, and what’s next for Native Pet.
For more on Native Pet, visit: https://nativepet.com/
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